EU4-51: Describing a business situation

Vocabulary

[JOAN] The purpose of this meeting is to give you an update about IXW's purchase of Sunset Computers. I know you must have a lot of questions. Well, now is the time for answers.[JOAN] Let's start with the good news. Due to the purchase of Sunset, our market share in Asia has increased to 23 percent, And our revenue form the region has increased to nearly 25 percent. This is mainly because of Sunset's strength in China and Korea.[JOAN] However, sales in Europe have decreased slightly. As a result, revenue there fell by 8 percent. while sales in North and South America have been flat. Overall, revenue is up by 5 percent, but our costs have also risen. Consequently, our profits are going to decrease slightly.[JOAN] Let me assure you, we're not looking at layoffs to save money. But it is possible that we'll delay some projects. In the few weeks, you will be working with your managers to find opportunities to cut expenses. Does anyone have any questions?

Key words

• The purpose of this meeting is to …
• layoffs to save money
• opportunities to cut expenses

Grammar

1. Special infinitive phrases

特殊不定式短语可由名词或者名词短语+be构成。

1. Noun+infinitive

This meeting is an opportunity to give you some answers.
We’re not looking at layoffs to save money.

2. Noun phrases + be + infinitive

The purpose of today’s meeting is to give you a company update.

2. 表达原因与结果

使用due to 和 because of 表示从句。 这些表达是从属子句的一部分。 注意，当从属子句在独立子句之前出现需要用逗号隔开。

Because of our purchase of Sunset Computers, they have some questions.
They have some questions because of our purchase of Sunset Computers.
Due to the purchase of Sunset Computers, our market share has increased.
Our market share has increased due to the purchase of Sunset Computers.

使用as a result 和 consequently描述一个结果。这些表达紧接前一句描述的原因。注意这些表达后接逗号。

Sales in Europe have decreased slightly. As a result, revenue there fell by 8%.
Our costs have risen. Consequently, our profits are going to decrease slightly.

3. Talking about increase and decrease

使用现在完成时讨论一段时间以来直到现在发送的变化。使用介词to表达一个结果。使用介词by表达数额。

Our market share has increased to 23 percent.
Profits have decreased by 15 percent.

如果没有变化，可以使用形容词flat.

Sales have been flat.

使用一般过去时讨论过去一段时间来的结果或数额。

Revenue fell by 8% last year.
Our market share rose to 35% last quarter.

使用nearly, slightly和significantly等副词表达不那么精确的信息。

Prices rose by nearly 20%.
Sales have decreased slightly.
Revenue has increased significantly.